Number 10

This 1983 British miniseries chronicles the lives and careers of seven distinguished Prime Ministers who resided at 10 Downing Street: William Gladstone, Ramsay MacDonald, David Lloyd George, Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, Herbert Henry Asquith, Benjamin Disraeli, and William Pitt the Younger. Covering a period of over 125 years—from the time of the Napoleonic Wars through the 1920s—the episodes detail the challenges faced by these exceptional men during their tenures at the head of Britain's government, while also devoting considerable time to their personal lives. Although American viewers unfamiliar with the intricacies of British history may not fully appreciate the impact these men had on the course of empire, the behind-the-scenes domestic dramas are universal. Standout episodes include “The Iron Duke,” featuring Bernard Archard as the Duke of Wellington; “Bloodline,” with Jeremy Brett as the tragic William Pitt the Younger; and “Dizzy,” starring Richard Pasco as the flamboyant Disraeli. DVD extras include text bios of the prime ministers. Sure to appeal to Anglophiles, this is recommended. (E. Hulse)